Grandstand superstructure



Aug. 12, 1952 RHODES 2,606,345

GRANDSTAND SUPEPTSTRUCTURE 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Oct. 31, 1949 [mentor659410 5. Ef/Wfi Aug; 12, 1952 I RHODES 2,606,345

GRANDSTAND SUPERSTRUCTURE 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEET 2 Filed 001;. 51, 1949 may beobtained from Patented Aug. 12, 1952 2,606,345 GRANDSTANDsnreasrrmic'ruan Gerald E. Rhodes, Gary,

States Steel Company,

Jersey Ind., assign'or to United a corporation of New ApplicationOctober 31, 1949, Serial No. 124,679

1 Claim.

This'invention relates to a grand stand fabricated from steel membersand, in particular, to the superstructure, i. e., deck plates and seatsupports, thereof.

The construction of my invention is an improvement over that disclosedin Woodbury Patent No. 1,986,174. The object of my invention is toprovide a fabricated structure requiring less welding, both in the fieldand in the shop, than that shown in said patent, and one composed ofparts which can be manufactured more cheaply.

More specifically, the present invention concerns an improvedinterlocking joint between the tread and riser portions of adjacentstep-like deck plates of L-shaped section. In a preferred embodiment,the upper and lower edges of adjacent plates are provided with spacedintegral lugs or tabs bent through an angle greater than 90 from theplane of the tread and riser portions of the plates, and adapted tointerlock with the edges of the adjacent plates.

A complete understanding of the invention the following detaileddescription and explanation'which' refer to the accompanying drawingsillustrating a present preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a partial vertical section in a plane parallel to spaceddeck-supporting stringers and transverse to the length of the deckplates spanning them, with seat supports in elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the deck plates;

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 4 is an end view of the deck plate;

Figure 5 is a partial front elevation showing one form of seat support;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a modified form of seatsupport; and

Figure 7 is a partial section similar to Figure 1 showing the modifiedform of seat support mounted on the deck plate.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present, to Figures1 through 5, the grand stand superstructure of my invention comprisesstep-like deck plates i0, disposed side-by-side and interconnected attheir adjacent edges. The deck plates are provided with seat supports llspaced therealong. Seat members l2 such as planks span adjacentsupports. The superstructure thus briefly described is carried by anysuitable substructure including a plurality of spaced parallel beams orstringers l3 disposed at an angle of about 20 to the horizontal.

As best shown in Figures 2 through 4, the deck plates 10 include a treadportion l4 and a riser portion ISintegral therewith, the two portionsbeing disposed at substantially right angles to each other. Connectingstraps W are welded to the rear edges of the tread portions adjacent theends of the deck plates to permit attachment of the latter to thestringers 13 by suitable fasteners such as bolts or rivets. It willbeuriderstood that the deck plates are of such lengthas to span one ormore spaces. between adjacent stringers. The rear edges'of the treadportions '14 have spaced integral lugs or tabs 16 benttupwardly from theplane thereof and through an angle greater than therefrom. The loweredges of the deck plate have similar lugs l1 staggered relative to thelugs [6; The deck plates may conveniently be made from fiat metal plateby the aid of suitable shearing and bending dies, the only shop weldinginvolved being that required for attachment of the securing straps l4.

By virtue of the staggered lugs or tabs l6 and H, the meeting edges ofadjacent deck plates are interlocked when assembled in the manner shownin- Figure 3' of Patent No. 1,986,174, men'- tioned above. When the deckplates are thus assembled, placed on the supporting stringers l3 andsecured thereto, as shown in Figure 1, the extreme ends of the lugs l6bear on the rear face of the riser portion of the deck plate next above.Similarly, the extreme ends of the lugs I1 bear on the lower face of thetread portion of the next plate below. By reason of the conformation ofthe lugs and the resilience of the metal, the lugs I6 and I1 function asspring fingers resiliently urging the meeting edges of adjacent deckplates together to form a tight joint therebetween. This makes itpossible to dispense with the field welding of the joint as disclosed inthe aforesaid patent (except for application of a small fillet weld forweatherpro'ofing purposes), thus reducing the cost of construction andthe time required therefor. While the tread portions of the deck plateshave been shown as horizontal, they may be pitched downwardly toward thevertex l8 to facilitate drainage. Even if the tread and riser portionsare at right angles when manufactured, this downward pitch toward thevertex may be obtained on installation by virtue of the resilience ofthe lugs I6 and H, the slight resulting deformation thereof serving toapply bending stress thereto rendering them even more effective inmaintaining a tight joint between the meeting edges of adjacent plates.

The seat support II is formed of metal plate and includes a web or bodyportion [9 notched at the lower edge to fit over the vertex l8 of thedeck plate. A flange 20 integral with the web bent over into ahorizontal position affords a wide bearing for seating members such asplanks I2. The web I9 has a vertical slot 2| extending upwardly from thebottom intermediate the front and rear edges and terminating short ofthe flange 20. The portion of the web between the slot 2| and the rearedge of the support is bent laterally on a horizontal line 22intersecting the slot 2| adjacent its upper end, to form a brace 23disposed at a slight angle to the remainder of the web. The lower edgeof the web I 9 is welded to the deck plate where it curves around thevertex. The lower edge of the brace 23 is similarly welded to the deckplate thus afiording resistance to bending of the web under forcesapplied longitudinally of the seating members l2.

, Figures 6 and 7 show a modified form of seat support 24.- This supportis also formed of metal plate and comprises a web25, a flange 26corresponding to the flange 20 of support H, and an integral brace 21bent' at right angles to the forward edge of the web and extendinglaterally thereof. 'I'he'bottom edge of the web is welded to the treadof the deck plate adjacent its vertex. The lower edge of the brace 21extends along the vertex and is welded thereto.

It will be apparent that the construction disclosed herein has importantadvantages over similar structures previously known and that shown inthe aforesaid patent in particular. As pointed out expresslyhereinabove, the lugs l6 and I! integral with the meeting edges of thetread and riser portion of the adjacent deck plates, are extremelyeffective in maintaining a tight joint therebetween, acting in themanner of spring fingers to press each edge against the other. By makingthe lugs integral with tread and riser portions of the deck plates,furthermore, manufacturing costs are reduced. The labor required forwelding on the angles employed heretofore to provide the lugs iseliminated as well as the shop facilities incidental thereto. The seatsupport with an integral brace bent from the plane of the web affords asimple yet sturdy mounting for the seating members, and may be securedto the deck plates with a minimum of field welding.

I claim:

A stepped supporting structure comprising a plurality of L-shaped steeldeck plates laid in side-by-side relation spanning spaced supports, saidplates each having a tread portion and a riser portion, the lower edgeof the riser portion of one plate abutting the adjacent edge of thetread portion of the next lower plate, the meeting edges of the treadportion of each plate and the riser portion of the adjacent plate havingintegral lugs spaced therealong projecting outwardly and laterally, thelugs of each plate overlapping the edge of the adjacent plate, beingstaggered relative to the lugs on the adjacent plate and interfittingtherewith, said lugs being bent through an angle substantially greaterthan from the planes of the tread and riser portions, respectively, theextreme ends only of the lugs on the riser portion of one plate engagingthe bottom of the tread portion of the adjacent plate underbending'stress and the extreme ends only of the lugs on the treadportion of said adjacent plate engaging the back of the riser portion ofsaid one plate under bending stress, said lugs constantly acting asspring fingers and thus serving to mechanically lock said meeting edgestightly together.

GERALD E. RHODES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

